Royal family faces fears of terrorist attacks over security breaches

Another source with knowledge of royal security operations said: ‘Protecting Windsor Castle is a hugely complicated operation because it functions almost like a small town and royal residence.

‘You have a huge estate to keep an eye on, multiple access points, tourist traffic every day, constant comings and goings of staff, service vehicles, deliveries and major public events happening all year round. From a policing perspective it is one of the most demanding royal locations in the country.”

The insider added: ‘That level of activity means officers can never afford to become complacent or switch to autopilot, even during quieter periods when senior royal officials are not visibly present.

“The fear among security professionals is that it only takes one lapse in concentration or one unguarded position for someone dangerous to exploit a weakness in the system. Given the profile of the Royal Family and the history of threats against them, the stakes are incredibly high if procedures are not always properly followed.”

The latest controversy follows further security concerns in October 2024, when thieves stole a pick-up and quad bike from a nearby estate farm before smashing through a security gate while William, Catherine and their children, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, eight, slept nearby in Adelaide Cottage.